Marine noise and vibration isolation system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an outboard motor mounting arrangement comprising a first bracket adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat and including a lower generally vertically extending and rearwardly facing surface and an upper generally vertically extending and forwardly facing surface located in rearwardly spaced relation to and above the rearwardly facing surface, together with a second bracket and including an upper generally vertical and rearwardly facing surface located in opposed and spaced relation to the forwardly facing surface of the first bracket and a lower generally vertical and forwardly facing surface in spaced and opposed relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the first bracket, and first and second noise and vibration isolating mounts respectively extending between the upper forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces and the lower forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces.

United States Patent 1 Larsen 11] 3,884,174 [451 May 20, 1975 [75]Inventor: Robert T. Larsen, Menomonee Falls, Wis,

[73] Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation,

Waukegan, Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 388,374

[52] US. Cl. 115/17; 248/4; 248/9; 248/20 [51] Int. Cl B63h 21/26; B63h21/30 [58] Field of Search 115/17, 18, 34, 41; 248/4, 248/15, 22, 9, 20

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,861,048 5/1932 Conover248/4 X 2,209,592 7/1940 Beck 248/4 2,738,751 3/1956 Hogberg 115/172,740,368 4/1956 Irgens et a1. 115/18 3,586,272 6/1971 Pestell 248/223,599,594 8/1971 Taipale 115/17 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 560,5374/1957 Italy 248/4 Primary ExaminerTrygveM. Blix AssistantExaminer-Galen L. Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael, Best &Friedrich [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is an outboard motor mountingarrangement comprising a first bracket adapted to be secured to thetransom of a boat and including a lower generally vertically extendingand rearwardly facing surface and an upper generally verticallyextending and forwardly facing surface located in rearwardly spacedrelation to and above the rearwardly facing surface, together with asecond bracket and including an upper generally vertical and rearwardlyfacing surface located in opposed and spaced relation to the forwardlyfacing surface of the first bracket and a lower generally vertical andforwardly facing surface in spaced and opposed relation to therearwardly facing surface of the first bracket, and first and secondnoise and vibration isolating mounts respectively extending between theupper forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces and the lower forwardlyand rearwardly facing surfaces.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HAYZO i975 SHEET 10F 3 PATENTEUHAY 2 0 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 155mm :mmsm

SHEET 3 OF 3 MARINE NOISE AND VIBRATION ISOLATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The invention relates generally to noise and vibrationisolation systems or arrangements for outboard motors. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to outboard motor mountingarrangements and to outboard motors and to boats. Still moreparticularly, the invention relates to noise and vibration isolatingsystems and arrangements for preventing or at least reducing noise andvibration transmission from an outboard motor propulsion unit to asupporting boat hull.

Prior examples of arrangements for isolating the noise and vibrationassociated with a marine propulsion unit from a supporting boat arefound in the following US. Pat. Nos:

Long 2,630,991 issued March 10. 1953 Irgens 2,740,368 issued April 3,1956 Rose 2,890,674 issued June 16. 1959 Kiekhaefer 2,911.96] issuedNovember It), 1959 Kiekhaefer 2,916,007 issued December 8, 1959 Watkins3,002,489 issued April 7, 1964 Mohr 3.127866 issued April 7, 1964Watkins 3,452,704 issued July 1, 1969 Taipale 3599.594 issued August 17.1971 Wick 3.613.631 issued October 19, 1971 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Theinvention provides a noise and vibration isolating mounting system foran outboard motor comprising a first member or bracket adapted to besecured to the transom of a boat and including a lower surface and anupper surface located in rearwardly spaced relation to and above thelower surface, together with a second bracket or member adapted tosupport an outboard motor, located between the upper and lower surfacesof the first bracket and including an upper surface located in spacedrelation to the upper surface of the first bracket and a lower surfacein spaced relation to the lower surface of the first bracket, and firstand second noise isolating means or isolators respectively extendingbetween the upper surfaces and the lower surfaces.

In further accordance with the invention the lower surface of the firstbracket extends generally vertically and is rearwardly facing in opposedrelation to the lower surface of the second bracket which extendsgenerally vertically and is forwardly facing. The upper surface of thefirst bracket extends generally vertically and is forwardly facing inopposed relation to the upper surface of the second bracket whichextends generally vertically and is rearwardly facing.

In still further accordance with the invention, the noise and vibrationisolating mounting arrangement can also include an upwardly facingsurface on the first bracket together with a downwardly facing surfaceon the second bracket in opposed and spaced relation to the upwardlyfacing surface on the first bracket, together with a third noiseisolating means or isolator between the opposed upwardly and downwardlyfacing surfaces.

The isolators can, in accordance with the invention, be either air bags,or soft rubber mounts, or other suitable noise and vibration isolatingmeans.

Also provided is an outboard motor which incorporates a noise andvibration isolating arrangement embodying the invention and which isadapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat.

Still further, there is provided a boat which incorporates a noise andvibration isolating arrangement or system embodying the invention andwhich is adapted to receive or support a conventional outboard motor.

One of the principal features of the invention is the provision of anoutboard motor noise and vibration isolating arrangement providingsuperior efficiency in preventing, or at least reducing, noise andvibration transmission from a marine propulsion unit to a supportingboat hull.

Another of the principal features of the invention is a marinepropulsion device which is adapted to be mounted on the transom of aboat and which incorporates a noise and vibration isolation systembetween a tilt bracket and transom attachment bracket.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of aboat hull including a noise and vibration isolation arrangement which isadapted to support an outboard motor.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become known byreference to the following drawings, general description and appendedclaims.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, of an arrangement formounting an outboard motor to the stern of a boat hull.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the mounting arrangementemployed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the mountingarrangement employed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken away view similar to FIG. 3, furtherillustrating the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a marine propulsion device integrallyembodying a noise and vibration isolating system in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a boat hull integrally embodying a noiseand vibration isolating system in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before explaining the inventionin detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of construction and the arrangements ofthe components set forth in the following description or illustrated inthe drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposesof description and should not be regarded as limiting.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shown in FIG. 1 is a noise and vibration isolatingsystem or arrangement 11 for mounting an outboard motor 13 to a boattransom 15. The outboard motor 13 is of conventional structure includinga clamp or transom bracket 17, a swivel bracket 18 connected to theclamp bracket 17 by a tilt pin 19 and a propulsion unit 21 whichincludes a power head 23 and a lower unit 25 supporting a propeller 27and which is connected to the swivel bracket 18 through a king pin 29journaled by the swivel bracket 18. The outboard motor can be eitherwith or without conventional isolation mounts between the king pin 29and the propulsion unit 21 as shown for instance in the previouslyidentified U.S. Irgens, Kiekhaefer, Taipale and Wick patents.

In accordance with the invention, the outboard motor mountingarrangement 11 includes, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first memberor mounting or transom bracket which is adapted to be fixedly connectedto the transom 15, as by bolting or the like. The mounting bracket 33includes a lower, generally vertical and rearwardly facing surface 35and an upper generally vertically and forwardly facing surface 37 whichis located in rearwardly spaced relation to and above the lowerrearwardly facing surface 35. More specifically, in the constructionillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the mounting bracket 33 includes amounting plate 39 which includes the lower rearwardly facing surface 35which comprises two laterally adjacent surface portions 36 and 38. Theupper forwardly facing surface 37 includes (See FIGS. 2 and 3) laterallyspaced portions 41 and 43 which are supported from the mounting plate 39by respective laterally spaced bridging structures 45 and 47 which cantake various forms. In the illustrated construction, each bridgingstructure is in the form of three channel shaped sections 49, 51 and 53which are welded together to form U-shaped bracket portions which arerespectively connected by bolts 40 to the plate 39.

lnterposed between the lower rearwardly facing surface 35 and the upperforwardly facing surface 37 of the mounting bracket 33 is a generallyvertically extending second member or intermediate plate or bracket 61which is generally in the form of a plate extending between theforwardly and rearwardly spaced surfaces 35 and 37 of the mountingbracket 33, and which forms a support to which the clamp bracket 17 isconnected. If desired, a spacer 62 can be located between theintermediate bracket 61 and the clamp bracket 17.

The intermediate bracket 61 includes an upper rearwardly facing surface63 located in opposed spaced relation to the upper, forwardly facingsurface 37 of the mounting bracket 33. In the illustrated construction,the rearwardly facing surface 63 includes two laterally spaced portions65 and 67 formed by laterally extending wings 69. The intermediatebracket 61 also includes a lower forwardly facing surface 71 inrearwardly spaced and opposing relation to the lower rearwardly facingsurface 35 of the mounting bracket 33. In the illustrated construction,lower surface 71 includes two laterally adjacent portions 73 and 75.

In further accordance with the invention, noise and vibration isolatingmeans are provided for supporting the intermediate bracket from themounting bracket. In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, suchmeans comprises one or more upper isolators 77 extending between theupper forwardly facing surface 37 of the mounting bracket 33 and theupper rearwardly facing surface 63 of the intermediate bracket 61,together with one or more isolators 79 extending between the lower,rearwardly facing surface 35 of the mounting bracket 33 and the lower,forwardly facing surface 71 of the intermediate bracket 61.

While the upper and lower isolators 77 and 79 can provide sufficientvertical support for the intermediate bracket 61, it is preferred toprovide the mounting bracket 33 with a lower rearwardly extending shelf81 having an upwardly facing surface 83 and to provide the intermediatebracket 61 with a downwardly facing surface 85 in spaced and opposedrelation to the upward facing surface 83 of the mounting bracket 33 andto locate between such opposed surfaces 83 and 85 one or more isolators87 which are particularly adapted to support vertical loading on theintermediate bracket 61.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two upper isolators 77 andemployed between the opposed portions 41-43 and 65-67 of the upperrearwardly and forwardly facing surfaces 37 and 63 and two lowerisolators 79 are employed between the adjacent portions 36-38 and 73-75of the lower forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces and 71.

While various isolator constructions can be employed, in theconstruction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the upper and lowerisolators 77 and 79 and the vertical load supporting isolator 87comprises a com mercially available air bag comprising an inflatabledisc-like rubber envelope 91 having opposed side faces to which arebonded mounting plates 93. Extending from the mounting plates 93 arethreaded stubs 95 received in suitable holes in the adjacent brackets 36and 61 and fixed thereto by nuts 97. Other means for attaching the airbags between the mounting bracket 33 and the intermediate bracket 61 canbe employed. Each air bag is provided with a valve 99 facilitatinginflation thereof and variation of the air pressure therein, whereby theoperating characteristics of the mounting arrangements can be varied asmay be desired. Al-

' though the various air bags could be associated with a common valveheader, whereby uniform pressure could be provided in all of the bags,it is preferred to employ a separate valve 99 for each air bag toenhance adaptability of the mounting system to various load factors.

Illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is another embodiment of an isolatingsystem 111 in accordance with the invention. The isolating system 111 issubstantially identical to the isolating system 11 except that theisolating system includes isolators 177, 179 and 187 and mountingstherefor which are of somewhat different form than the isolators 77, 79and 87 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The parts of the isolation system 111(shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) which are substantially identical to thecorresponding parts of the FIGS. 2 and 3 construction, have been giventhe same reference numerals as used in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each of the isolators 177, 179 and 187 incorporated in the constructionshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is commercially available and is made of softrubber in the form of a channel having a web 201 and spaced extendingflanges 203. Bonded to the outer extremities of the flanges 203 of eachof the soft rubber isolators 177, 179 and 187 is a mounting plate 205.The mounting plates 205 of the isolators 177 and 179 are located onpedestals 207 and are connected to the bracket 33 by one or more bolts2.09 extending through apertures in the pedestals 207 and in theadjacent surface of the mounting bracket 33 and secured thereto by nuts211. The pedestals 207 merely serve to bridge the space between theopposed surfaces 35-71 and 37-63.

Bonded to the web of each of the soft rubber isolators 177, 179 and 187is a channel shaped mounting sleeve 213. The sleeves 213 bonded to theisolators 177 and 179 capture the heads of one or more bolts 215 whichpass through suitable apertures in the adjacent surface of theintermediate bracket 61 and are secured by respective nuts 217.

The mounting plate 205 of the vertical load supporting isolator 187 isbolted at 219 to a pedestal 221 which, in turn, is bolted at 223 to thedownwardly facing surface 85 of the intermediate bracket 61.

The mounting sleeve 213 bonded to the web of the isolator 187 isconnected by one or more bolts at 227 to the upwardly facing surface 83of the mounting bracket 33.

Shown in FIG. 6 is a marine propulsion device in the form of an outboardmotor 102 including a swivel bracket 104 and connected propulsion unit106 including a power head 108 and a lower unit 110 which supports apropeller (not shown). The swivel bracket 104 is connected through atilt pin 114 to a vertically extending bracket 116 which providessupport for the tilt pin 114 and which in other respects corresponds tothe before mentioned intermediate bracket 61. As in the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the tilt pin supporting bracket 116 isconnected through a noise and vibration isolating system 118 to amounting bracket 120 which is removably fixable in any suitable mannerto a boat transom. The isolating system 118 is substantially identicalto the isolating system shown in FIG. 1 through 3.

Shown fragmentarily in FIG. 7 a boat hull 148 including a bottom 150 andopposed sides 152. Structurally integrated into the boat hull 148,adjacent the rearward end thereof, is a structural member 156 whichcorresponds to the before mentioned mounting bracket 33 and whichsupports a rearwardly spaced member or bracket 158 which corresponds tothe before mentioned intermediate bracket 61. As in the outboard motor102 shown in FIG. 6, the rearwardly spaced bracket 158 is supported fromthe structural member 156 by an isolating system 160 such as disclosedin FIGS. 1 and 5.

Suitable means extend from the structural member 156 to the bottom 150and sides 152 of the boat hull 148 to prevent entry of water into theboat hull. The structural member 156 can form the boat transom or, ifdesired. can be located forwardly of a false transom (not shown). In anyevent, the construction shown in FIG. 7 is intended to integrate thedisclosed isolating system in a boat hull and to provide for removableattachment to the rear bracket 158 of a marine propulsion device such asan outboard motor 162.

As already indicated, when employing the isolating systems disclosedherein, the conventional isolation mounts employed in an outboard motorbetween the drive shaft housing and the king pin carried by the swivelbracket can be omitted if desired.

The use of isolators other than the air bags and rubber mounts whichhave been particularly described and illustrated, is also within thescope of the invention. Various of the features of the invention are setforth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An outboard motor mounting arrangement comprising a mounting bracketadapted to be secured to the transom ofa boat and including a lowersurface and an upper surface located in rearwardly spaced relation fromand above said lower surface, an intermediate bracket located betweensaid upper and lower surfaces of said mounting bracket and including anupper surface located in spaced facing relation to said upper surface ofsaid mounting bracket and a lower surface in spaced facing relation tosaid lower surface of said mounting bracket, first and second discreteand laterally spaced noise and vibration isolating means extendingbetween said spaced upper surfaces, and a third discrete noise andvibration isolating means extending between said spaced lower surfaces.

2. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidmounting bracket includes an upwardly facing surface, wherein saidintermediate bracket includes a downwardly facing surface in opposed andspaced relation to said upwardly facing surface of said mountingbracket, and a fourth noise and vibration isolating means between saidopposed upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces.

3. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 and furtherincluding a marine propulsion lower unit, and means connecting saidlower unit to said intermediate bracket for vertical and horizontalswinging movement relative to said intermediate bracket.

4. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said thirdnoise and vibration isolating means comprises two discrete mounts.

5. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein each ofsaid noise and vibration isolating means comprises an air bag.

6. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 5 wherein said airbags each include a rubber structure including a hollow interior andmeans for variably pressurizing said hollow interior of said rubberstructure.

7. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein each ofsaid noise and vibration isolating means comprises a rubber mount.

8. A boat hull including bottom and sides extending from said bottom, amember connected to said boat hull adjacent to the rear thereof andincluding a lower surface and an upper surface located in rearwardlyspaced relation from and above said lower surface, a bracket locatedbetween said upper and lower surfaces of said member and including anupper surface located in spaced facing relation to said upper surface ofsaid member and a lower surface in spaced facing relation to said lowersurface of said member, and first and second discrete, laterally spacednoise and vibration isolating means extending between said spaced uppersurfaces, a third discrete noise and vibration isolating means extendingbetween said spaced lower surfaces, and water-tight means extendingbetween said member and said bottom and sides of said boat hull toprevent entry of water into said boat hull.

9. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8 wherein said member includesan upwardly facing surface, wherein said bracket includes a downwardlyfacing surface in opposed and spaced relation to said upwardly facingsurface of said member, and a fourth noise and vibration isolating meansbetween said opposed upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces.

10. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8 wherein said third noise andvibration isolating means comprises two discrete mounts.

11. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said noiseand vibration isolating means comprises an air bag.

12. A boat hull in accordance with claim 11 wherein said air bags eachinclude a rubber structure including a hollow interior and means forvariably pressurizing said hollow interior of said rubber structure.

13. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said noiseand vibration isolating means comprises a rubber mount.

14. An outboard motor comprising a mounting bracket removably andrigidly secured to the transom of a boat and including a lower surfaceand an upper surface located in rearwardly spaced relation from andabove said lower surface, an intermediate bracket located between saidupper and lower surfaces of said mounting bracket and including an uppersurface located in spaced relation to said upper surface of saidmounting bracket and a lower surface located in spaced relation to saidlower surface of said mounting bracket, a first noise and vibrationisolating means extending between said spaced upper surfaces, a secondnoise and vibration isolating means extending between said spaced lowersurfaces, a tilt pin journalled by said intermediate bracket, a swivelbracket supported by said tilt pin for vertical swinging movementrelative to said intermediate bracket, a propulsion unit, and a king pinconnecting said swivel bracket to said propulsion unit to permithorizontal steering movement therebetween.

15. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein said mountingbracket includes an upwardly facing surface, wherein said intermediatebracket includes a downwardly facing surface in opposed and spacedrelation to said upwardly facing surface of said mounting bracket, and athird noise and vibration isolating means between said opposed upwardlyand downwardly facing surfaces.

16. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of saidnoise and vibration isolating means comprises two discrete mounts.

17. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of saidnoise and vibration isolating means comprises an air bag.

18. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 17 wherein said air bagseach include a rubber structure including a hollow interior and meansfor variably pressurizing said hollow interior of said rubber structure.

19. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of saidnoise and vibration isolating means comprises a rubber mount.

* l l= l

1. An outboard motor mounting arrangement comprising a mounting bracketadapted to be secured to the transom of a boat and including a lowersurface and an upper surface located in rearwardly spaced relation fromand above said lower surface, an intermediate bracket located betweensaid upper and lower surfaces of said mounting bracket and including anupper surface located in spaced facing relation to said upper surface ofsaid mounting bracket and a lower surface in spaced facing relation tosaid lower surface of said mounting bracket, first and second discreteand laterally spaced noise and vibration isolating means extendingbetween said spaced upper surfaces, and a third discrete noise andvibration isolating means extending between said spaced lower surfaces.2. A mounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidmounting bracket includes an upwardly facing surface, wherein saidintermediate bracket includes a downwardly facing surface in opposed andspaced relation to said upwardly facing surface of said mountingbracket, and a fourth noise and vibration isolating means between saidopposed upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces.
 3. A mountingarrangement in accordance with claim 1 and further including a marinepropulsion lower unit, and means connecting said lower unit to saidintermediate bracket for vertical and horizontal swinging movementrelative to said intermediate bracket.
 4. A mounting arrangement inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said third noise and vibration isolatingmeans comprises two discrete mounts.
 5. A mounting arrangement inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each of said noise and vibrationisolating means comprises an air bag.
 6. A mounting arrangement inaccordance with claim 5 wherein said air bags each include a rubberstructure including a hollow interior and means for variablypressurizing said hollow interior of said rubber structure.
 7. Amounting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of saidnoise and vibration isolating means comprises a rubber mount.
 8. A boathull including bottom and sides extending from said bottom, a memberconnected to said boat hull adjacent to the rear thereof and including alower surface and an upper surface located in rearwardly spaced relationfrom and above said lower surface, a bracket located between said upperand lower surfaces of said member and including an upper surface locatedin spaced facing relation to said upper surface of said member and alower surface in spaced facing relation to said lower surface of saidmember, and first and second discrete, laterally spaced noise andvibration isolating means extending between said spaced upper surfaces,a third discrete noise and vibration isolating means extending betweensaid spaced lower surfaces, and water-tight means extending between saidmember and said bottom and sides of said boat hull to prevent entry ofwater into said boat hull.
 9. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8wherein said member includes an upwardly facing surface, wherein saidbracket includes a downwardly facing surface in opposed and spacedrelation to said upwardly facing surface of said member, and a fourthnoise and vibration isolating means between said opposed upwardly anddownwardly facing surfaces.
 10. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8wherein said third noise and vibration isolating means comprises twodiscrete mounts.
 11. A boat hull in accordance with claim 8 wherein eachof said noise and vibration isolating means comprises an air bag.
 12. Aboat hull in accordance with claim 11 wherein said air bags each includea rubber structure including a hollow interior and means for variablypressurizing said hollow interior of said rubber structure.
 13. A boathull in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said noise and vibrationisolating means comprises a rubber mount.
 14. An outboard motorcomprising a mounting bracket removably and rigidly secured to thetransom of a boat and including a lower surface and an upper surfacelocated in rearwardly spaced relation from and above said lower surface,an intermediate bracket located between said upper and lower surfaces ofsaid mounting bracket and including an upper surface located in spacedrelation to said upper surface of said mounting bracket and a lowersurface located in spaced relation to said lower surface of saidmounting bracket, a first noise and vibration isolating means extendingbetween said spaced upper surfaces, a second noise and vibrationisolating means extending between said spaced lower surfaces, a tilt pinjournalled by said intermediate bracket, a swivel bracket supported bysaid tilt pin for vertical swinging movement relative to saidintermediate bracket, a propulsion unit, and a king pin connecting saidswivel bracket to said propulsion unit to permit horizontal steeringmovement therebetween.
 15. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 14wherein said mounting bracket includes an upwardly facing surface,wherein said intermediate bracket includes a downwardly facing surfacein opposed and spaced relation to said upwardly facing surface of saidmounting bracket, and a third noise and vibration isolating meansbetween said opposed upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces.
 16. Anoutboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of said noiseand vibration isolating means comprises two discrete mounts.
 17. Anoutboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of said noiseand vibration isolating means comprises an air bag.
 18. An outboardmotor in accordance with claim 17 wherein said air bags each include arubber structure including a hollow interior and means for variablypressurizing said hollow interior of said rubber structure.
 19. Anoutboard motor in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of said noiseand vibration isolating means comprises a rubber mount.